The latest New York Times Connections puzzle, the Sports Edition for February 13th (#508), presents a set of four categories to decipher. This edition, published through The Athletic, challenges players to link seemingly unrelated terms into cohesive groups. If you’re stuck, this article provides a breakdown of hints and the confirmed solutions.
Understanding the Puzzle
Connections is a word-association game where the goal is to group four words together based on a shared theme. The difficulty lies in recognizing the connections, which range from straightforward to obscure. Today’s edition follows that pattern, with some groupings requiring deeper sports knowledge.
Hints by Difficulty
Here’s a breakdown of hints for each category, from easiest to hardest:
- Yellow (Easiest): Think gambling.
- Green: Consider iconic sports films.
- Blue: Focus on a legendary football player.
- Purple (Hardest): Teams based in major international cities.
Complete Solutions
Here’s how each category breaks down:
Yellow Category: Poker Hands
The theme is hands in poker. The words are:
- Full House
- Pair
- Royal Flush
- Straight
Green Category: Tennis Movies
This group centers on films featuring tennis as a core element:
- Battle of the Sexes
- Challengers
- King Richard
- Wimbledon
Blue Category: Walter Payton Tributes
These terms connect to the legacy of the Chicago Bears legend, Walter Payton:
- 34 (Payton’s jersey number)
- Bears (His NFL team)
- Jackson State (His college alma mater)
- Sweetness (His nickname)
Purple Category: Global Capitals Teams
The most difficult grouping consists of sports teams based in world capitals:
- Commanders (Washington, D.C.)
- Crystal Palace (London)
- Real Madrid (Madrid)
- Senators (Ottawa)
Why This Matters
The NYT Connections puzzle, including the Sports Edition, is popular because it tests both vocabulary and associative thinking. The purple category, in particular, highlights how sports often intersect with global cities and cultural identity. The puzzle’s difficulty increases with specialized knowledge, making it a fun yet challenging daily exercise for fans.
